Train-signal



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. J. FINN & J. A. GARNER.

TRAIN SIGNAL.

No. 449,672. Patented Apr 7,1891.

Wifgasses (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H..J. FINN & J. A. GARNER.

TRAIN SIGNAL.

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NiTEo STATES PATENT Prion.

HUGH J. FINN AND JOHN A. GARNER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TRAIN-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 449,672, dated April 7, 1891.

Application filed November 14, 1890. Serial No. 371,4fl4- (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HUGH J. FINN and JOHN A. GARNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Train-Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in electrical train-signals, and relates to that class of signals in which an electrical conductor is passed from the engine through the cars, having at suitable intervals signal-bells and circuit-breakers adapted to operate said bells, the circuit being completed through the rails and ground,so as to operate on a closed circuit.

The objects of our invention are, first, to provide means whereby the conductor and engineer of a train may be in direct and instant communication at all times, and so be enabled to signal and answer each other with dispatch and certainty; second, to provide means whereby the engineer and conductor or rear and head ends of a train may be in stantly apprised of the breaking loose of a car or cars (train-parting) While the train is in motion, and notified to properly control their respective ends of the train; also that in case a second parting of the train after the first signal has been given to again apprise the conductor or engineer on that part of the train in which the parting occurred of the fact, to the end that the different portions may be controlled and kept from colliding with each other; third, to provide means whereby cars belonging to other roads not provided with this invention maybe coupled up in a train without affecting or disarranging the signal communication, the electrical conductor being carried beneath such cars, as will be hereinafter explained.

\Vith these objects in view, and such others as fairly fall within the scope of the invention, our improvement consists of the peculiar construction and combination of parts that will be fully described hereinafter, and the points of novelty particularly pointed out in the claims.

in plan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View showing the operating parts in side elevation. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the coupling, showing the jaws in their normal position. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line a: 00 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1 y of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the casings of a pair of the couplings inverted, showing at A the position of the jaws when coupled, and at B the position the jaws assume when the action of uncoupling begins. Fig. Sis a front elevation of the circuit-breaken Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section; and Fig. 10 is a view of the conductor for carrying the electrical current under cars not provided with our signal device.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, 1 designates a suitable battery or source of electricity arranged within the cab 2 of an engine, preferably beneath the engineers seat 3. From one of the poles of said battery a wire l leads to a circuit-breaker 5, arranged in any suitable position within easy reach of the engineers hand. A wire 6 connects the said circuit-breaker with an electric alarmbell 7, also arranged near the engineers position, and a wire 8 extends from the said electric bell through a piece of rubber tubing 9, which passes beneath the tender to a coupling 10, through which it is connected to the first car of the train, each car being provided with rubber tubing 11, through which the conductor passes, and the couplings 10, by which electrical connection is established from car to car. It will be seen that the conductor is carried through the train and may have placed in circuit therewith circuit-breakers 5 5 and bells 7, placed at suitable intervals, such as in each car. in a passenger-train or in the caboose at the rear end of a freight-train.

Each coupling is provided with a wire 12, by which it is electrically connected to the wheels of the cars, by means of which the current may be grounded through the rails when the act of uncoupling takes place, as

will be hereinafter described. \Vhen coupled,

however, the electrical connection between the coupling 10 and the wire 12 is broken, so that the current will pass through the conductors of all the cars coupled together, but will pass from the last coupling 10 to the ground through the wire 12, the wheels, and the rails. The opposite pole of the battery 1 is connected by a wire 13 with the wheels of the locomotive, or the wire 13 may be connected to a coupling similar to the couplings 10 of the cars at the front of the engine, (which is not shown in the drawings,) and be connected to the wheels by means of a wire from the said coupling, as will be hereinafter described in connection with the couplings upon the cars, and thus grounded through the wheels and rails to complete the circuit. It will of course be understood that the exact arrangement of parts described above is not essential, as the object and spirit of the invention consist in establishing an electrical circuit from the battery in the engine through a circuit-breaker and bell placed in the cab thereof, and thence through the train and circuit-breakers and bells placed at suitable points therein, returning through the rails or ground, as before stated.

Our preferred form of alarm-bell is shown in Figs. 2 and 3,in which 15 designatesa base, of wood or other suitable material, and 16 an inclosing case secured thereupon. An electro-magnct 17 is mounted by means of its yoke-piece 18 upon the base-piece 15, one end of said yoke-piece 1S beingseeured to the said base, as shown in Fig. 3. An upright 20 is secured to the base 15, upon the top of which is pivoted a lever 21, having an armature 22 attached thereto, and arranged so that thesaid armature will lie in close proximity to the poles of the electro-magnet 17 ,to be operated thereby. The lever 21 extends through an opening in the casing 16, and has at its extremity a knob 23, arranged to strike the inside of a bell 24, mounted upon an upright 25, projecting from the base 15. The opposite end of the lever 21 is controlled by a spring 26, having one end attached to said lever and the opposite end secured to a regulating-wheel 27, arranged in the top of a standard 28, mounted in a suitable position upon the base 15, the action of the spring 26 being to pull the lever 21 and armature 22 away from the electro-magnet 17, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The movement of the lever 21 is limited by regulating-screws 29 30, arranged in a bifurcated standard 31, the screw 29 and the screw 30 limiting the sideward movement of the said lever. It will thus be understood that when the magnet is energized by the passage of an electric current through the helices thereof the armature will be attracted and held in the position shown in Fig. 2; but when the circuit is broken and the current ceases the armature will be released, and by the action of the spring 20 the lever 21 will suddenly spring into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig.

2, causing the knob 23 to strike the bell 21 and sound an alarm.

The coupling 10, by means of which electrical connection is established between the cars, is shown in Figs. ii: to 7 of the drawings, and consists of two metallic jaws and 33, hinged or pivoted together at one end by means of a pin 3i, and arranged within a easing 35, formed of suitable material, preferably metal. The inner halves of the jaws 32 and are substantially L-shapcd in cross-section, their horizontal portions 32 and being overlapped, as shown in Fig. 0. The pin passes through the overlapping portions and extends a short distance beyond their upper and lower sides, as at 37. Grooves 38 38 are formed in the insides of the casing 85, into which the ends 37 of the pin 31 project and are free to slide. By this construction it will be seen that the jaws and have a limited longitudinal movement within the easing 35.

A longitudinal recess 3!) is formed in the under side of the jaw 33, into which projects a lug 40, formed upon the inside of the easing A coiled spring 1 1, arranged within the recess 39, one end of said spring bearing against the inner end of the recess and the opposite end thereof bearing against the lug 40, serves to keep the jaws I32 and 33 normally pressed back in contact with a metallic button 42,forn1ed upon the end of an electrical conductor 3, which passes through the rubber tubing 11, arranged beneath the cars, thus placing the jaws 32 in electrical contact with the conductor 43. To prevent leakage of the current, the conductor is embedded in a sleeve of insulating material at, secured in and passing through the solid inner end of the casing The wire 12, by means of which the jaws are electrically connected to the wheels of the cars, enters the rubber tub ing 11 at any convenient point and passes through an opening 15 in the solid inner end of the casing 35 intoa longitudinal groove 41) in one side of the jaw 33, which extends about half the length of the jaw. The said wire 12 then passes through the jaw and terminates in a contact-button 4C7, arranged upon a flat surface 48, formed upon the side of the said jaw 33 adjacent to a similar [lat contactsurfaee 49, formed upon the jaw 32. The wire 12 is well insulated alongits entire length, and at the end adjacent to the contact-button 47 is embedded in insulating material, as shown at 50. A spring 51 is secured within the casing and arranged to press upon the jaw 32, so as to force it normally toward the jaw 33 and keep the contact-surface in electrical connection with the button -17, thereby establishing electrical connection between the wire 12 and the conductor The outside ends of the jaws 32 233 project beyond the casing 35, and the side of the jaw opposed to the jaw 32 is composed of three planes 52 53 54:. The planes and 51 are vertical and are connected by the incline IIO The outer side 55 of the jaw 33 is of an ovoidal or spoon-back form, ending,sharply at the "thereby forcing the jaw 32 away from the jaw 33 as the two couplings are forced together. WVhen coupled, as shown in Fig. 7 at A, the planes 52, 53, and 54 of one jaw 33 lie against the planes 54, 53, 52, respectively, of the jaw 33 of the other coupling, while the ovoidal back of the said jaw 33 lies within the concave portion 57 of the jaw 32, the springs 51 51 keeping the jaws pressed together with sufficient firmness to prevent their being accidentally displaced, but at the same time yielding enough to allow the coupling to be pulled apart without injury to the parts.

l/Vhen coupled as described above, the outer end of the jaw 33 being larger than the space between the two jaws will keep them pressed slightly apart and thus break contact between the button 47 and the jaw 32, thereby disconnecting the ground-wire 12, but closing the.

circuit through the jaws of the couplings from the conductor 43 of one car to the corresponding conductor of the next, thus establishing a complete circuit through the train to the last car, the last coupling 10 of which, being uncoupled, will conduct the current to the ground through the wire 12, as will be readily understood. Should the ears become uncoupled, the couplings 1O 10 will of course be pulled apart, but the springs 51 51 will cause the jaws of the couplings to grasp each other with sufficient firmness to pull the said jaws from their seat in the casing 35 against the tension of the spring 41, the ends 37 37 of the pin 34 slidingin the slots 38 38, thereby breaking the connection between the button 42 and the inner ends of the jaws 3; 33 and opening the circuit at that point, as shown in Fig. 7 at ,B. When the jaws move in the casing, the wire 12 is free to move backward or forward through the opening 45 and thus prevent injury to the same. As soon asthe circuit is opened the alarm-bell will sound, as hereinbefore described, and apprise the engineer of the break. lVhen the jaws have reached the limit of their outward movement, the springs 51 51 will yield and allow the jaws to come out of contact with each other, or, in other words, allow the coupling to be pulled apart. As soon as the jaws are disengaged the springs 41 and 51 will act to return them to their normal position, closing the circuit at the buttons 42 and 47 and restoring the signal to an operative condition, as will be clearly understood.

To enable the conductor or engineer to break and close the circuit at will, we provide circuit-breakers 5 5, one of which is placed in the cab 2 of the engine and others placed at suitable intervals through the train, as at a and I), (see Fig. 1,) or one or more maybe placed in each car, as circumstances may require.

The construction of our preferred form of circuit-breaker is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, in which designates a basepiece of wood or other insulating material, upon which are mounted the two parts 61 and 62 of the circuit-breaker proper. The lower part 61 of the circuit-breaker is secured firmly upon the base 60 by means of abinding-screw 63, which passes through the base and has connected thereto one end of the conductor 43. The upper part 62 of the circuit-breaker proper is pivoted upon the staple 64, the ends of which pass through the base 60, and are screw-threaded to receive binding-nuts 65, under which the other end of the conductor 43 is secured, thus placing the circuit-breaker proper in the circuit with the conductor 43. The upper end of the stationary part 61 is beveled, as shown at 66, and the lower end of the upper part 62 is correspondingly beveled, as at 67. A fiat spring 68 is secured upon the base 60 and extends under the part 62, in which it is secured at its inner end, and serves to keep the beveled surface 67 of the upper part normally in contact with the beveled surface 66 of the lower part, in which position the circuit-breaker is closed. An eye 69 is secured upon the face of the upper part 62 of the circuit-breaker, to which a cord 70 is attached, wh'ich cord may have a handle 71 at its free end, as shown in the cab 2 of the engine in Fig. 1, or it may extend through the car, so as to be in easy reach of the conductor at any place therein. To break the circuit it is only necessary to pull on the cord'7O with sufficient strength to overcome the resistance of the spring 68, when the part 62 will be moved into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, thereby opening the circuit.

In making up trains (especially of freightcars) it frequently becomes necessary to couple up cars belonging to other roads, (generally termed foreign cars,) and should such cars not be provided with our invention we use the device shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, which consists of a flexible conductor 80, covered over its entire length with a suitable insulation, to one end of which is attached a metallic piece 81, similar to the outer end of the jaw 33 of the coupling 10, and to the opposite end a coupling 2, similar to the coupling 10 on the cars.

The conductor 80 is coupled tothe coupling 10 of the car next to the foreign cars by means of the piece 81, and is then passed under the foreign car 0, Fig. 1, and coupled at its opposite end by the coupling 82 to the coupling 10 of the next car, the conductor 80 being supported along its length upon the truckframes or cross-sills of the car 0. By this means an unbroken circuit is established through the train independently of the foreign cars. Should several foreign cars follow each other consecutively, the conductors can be coupled together by placing the piece 81 of one conductor in the coupling 82 of the next, and so on until connection is made with a car having our electrical signal device. It will be seen that either the piece 81 or the coupling 82 may be coupled to one of the couplings 10 of the cars. Should circumstances require it, a part of the battery may be placed in the rear end of the train, as in the caboose of a freight-train, as shown at d, Fig. 1.

The operation of our invention willbe clearly understood from the foregoing; but it may be well to remark, in conclusion, that in practice the arrangement of freight-trains will probably be as shown in Fig. 1-t'. 6., a battery, bell, and circuit-breaker will be placed in the cab of the engine and electrically connected with a similar set of instruments in the caboose at the rear of the train. The caboose will also be provided with several of the conductors 80, (which may be coiled up so as to occupy very little space,) to be used when coupling foreign cars in the train. Each pull upon the cord 7 0 will break the circuit and ring the bell once, so that by the use of a code of signals the conductor of a train can transmit his directions to the engineer and receive such repliesas will inform him whether they are clearly understood and can be carried out, and will at all times enable the conductor and engineer to communicate with each other. A single ring of the bells will indicate that the train has parted, and will warn the train-hands to take such measures as will avert disaster from the two parts of the train running together.

Should it be found desirable, each car may be provided with a circuit-breaker and hell, or with a circuit-breaker alone, as shown at a, Fig. 1.

Any suitable means may be employed to connect the rubber tubing 11 with the couplings 10; but we prefer to use a screw-threaded end piece 90, secured to the end of the tubing and adapted to be screwed upon the correspondingly-threaded end of the coupling 10, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a train-signal, the combination of an electrical conductor, a source of electricity, a circuit-breaker, and an electric hell with a coupling having the jaws 32 33, pivoted to gether at their inner ends upon a pivot-pin 3st, arranged to slide in grooves 38, formed in the sides of a casing 35, held in place at the bottom of the said casing by a suitable spring 11 and pressed together by a spring 51, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a train-signal, the combination of an electrical conductor, a source of electricity, a circuit-breaker, and an electric bell with acoupling having two jaws pivoted together at their innerends and having their outer ends shaped so as to receive the correspondingly-shaped outer ends of a similar pair of jaws of another coupling, a spring 51 to press the jaws together, the said jaws being arranged to slide within a casing to make and break electrical contact with the end of the electrical conductor, and a suitable spring to keep the ends of the said jaws normally in contact with the said electrical conductor, arranged to operate substantially as and for the pur pose specified.

3. In a train-signal, the combination of an electrical conductor, a source of electricity, a circuit-breaker, and an electric bell with a coupling having two jaws 32 33 pivoted together, having their outer ends shaped to receive the corresponding ends of a similar pair of jaws of another coupling, said jaws being arranged to slide within a casing 35 and make and break electrical contact with the end 42 of the conductor 43, a spring 41 for holding the jaws normally in electrical contact with the conductor 43, one of said jaws 33 having a ground-wire 12, arranged therein and insulated therefrom, said ground-wire terminating in a contact-button 47, arranged to make electrical contact with the other jaw 32 of the same coupling when the jaws are pressed together, and a spring 51 to keep the said jaws 32 33 normally together, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In an electrical train-signal, a coupling having two jaws 32 33 pivoted together at their inner ends and arranged to slide within a casing to make and break electrical contact with an electrical conductor 43, a spring 41 for holding the said jaws normally in contact with the conductor 43, a ground-wire 12 extending through one of the said jaws and insulated therefrom, terminating in a contact point 47, adapted to make electrical contact with the other jaw of the same pair when the said jaws are closed, and a spring 51 for keeping the jaws normally closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electrical train-signal, a coupling having two jaws pivoted together ,at their inner ends and arranged to slide within a casing 35, a ground-Wire passing through one of the said jaws and adapted to make electrical contact with the other jaw of the same pair, and springs 4:1 and 51 for holding the said jaws in their normal position, in combination with a rubber tubing suitably secured to the said casing 35, within which the conductor 43 and the ground-wire 12 are housed and by means of which the coupling is flexibly connected to the car, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a train-signal, the combination of an electrical conductor, a source of electricity, an electric bell, and a coupling with a circuit-breaker having a contact-piece (31, provided with a beveled contact-surface 66, a pivoted circuit-breaker 62, having a beveled surface 67, adapted to make contact with the our own We have hereto affixed our signatures beveled surface 66, a spring 68, arranged to in presence of two Witnesses.

hold the beveled surface 67 normally in oontact with the beveled surface 66, and an eye 2 5 69, by means of which the circuit-breaker can be manipulated, arranged to operate sub- WVitnesses: stantially as and for the purpose specified. J NO. H. SIGGERS',

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as J. A. SAUL. 

